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anonymous

4 years ago

They are almost the same.
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First, let me give a hypothetical situation.
I'll use this situation to explain both theories:
**You are walking in a park,
and suddenly, you see a bear.**
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Okay, now here's how the James-Lange Theory would work, step by step:
1. You see a bear.
2. Your heart beats faster, your breathing rate increases, and the blood in your body rushes to your legs.
3. Your brain AUTOMATICALLY interprets these physical signs as fear.
4. You feel fear.
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And now, here is the Cognitive Arousal Theory:
1. You see a bear.
2. Your heart beats faster, your breathing rate increases, and the blood in your body rushes to your legs.
3. You CONSCIOUSLY tell yourself, "My heartbeat is fast, I'm breathing faster, and my legs feel heavy. This must be fear that I'm feeling!"
4. You feel fear.
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So here is the difference:
The James-Lange Theory says that physical arousal (increase heart-rate, increased breathing rate, etc.) is the ONLY thing that we need, in order to feel emotion.
The Cognitive Arousal Theory says that in order to feel emotion, we actually need MORE than just physical arousal.
We need to CONSCIOUSLY label our physical arousal.
We need to TELL OURSELVES, in our minds, that what we are feeling is connected to a certain emotion.